UL Cable Rating
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. is an independent company that conducts safety and performance testing on a wide variety of products, including wire and cable. The company's website notes that in 2010, there were 66,932 manufacturers worldwide producing UL-certified products. You can tell if a network cable has been rated by UL by looking for the "UL" designation on the side of the cable, with additional details on the tag the cable came with.
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Labeling
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Underwriters Laboratories requires that participating manufacturers label the cable directly with its rating. A local area network (LAN) and fiber optic cable that has been rated by UL must have "UL" printed on the cable, either in parenthesis or in a circle. The cable must also have the manufacturer's name, trademark or UL file number printed on it. The UL file number begins with an "E" in the format "E-xxxx." Local area network cables also display the cable type, the size and number of conductors in the cable, as well as the cable's temperature rating. Both types of cable must also be tagged with a UL verification label, which includes the above information as well as the cable footage and a UL issue number.
LAN Cable Safety Ratings
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Local area network cables are marked with one of six designations to identify their safety rating by UL. "CM" indicates a cable is intended for general use within buildings; "CMG" indicates the same as "CM," with the additional indication that the damage height of the cable does not exceed 59 inches; "CMP" indicates plenum-rated cable for use in ducts or above plenum ceilings; "CMR" indicates the cable is rated for use within buildings in vertical shafts; "CMUC" indicates the cable is rated for use below carpet; "CMX" indicates the cable is rated for use within buildings enclosed in noncombustible tubing or nonconcealed spaces if that space does not exceed 10 feet; and "CMX" cable that is also marked "Outdoor" can be used outdoors.
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Fiber Optic Cable Safety Ratings
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Fiber optic cable is marked with one of eight ratings. Ratings with "C" indicate the cable contains noncurrent-carrying metallic materials; ratings with an "N" do not contain any metallic materials; "OFC" and "OFN" designate cable that does not spread fire to the top of a vertical tray; "OFCG" and "OFNG" indicate cable that has a damage height not exceeding 59 inches; "OFCR" and "OFNR" are designed for use in vertical shafts and have a flame propagation height of less than 12 feet; the "OFCP" and "OFNP" designations are for cable that can be used in ducts and plenums, and have a maximum flame spread distance of five feet.
Cable Performance Ratings
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UL has additional ratings for cable performance separate from its safety ratings. Cable that has been rated for performance is marked with a "Verified by UL" or "Verified by Underwriters Laboratories Inc.", with a reference to the standard that was used. Ratings can be based on TIA/EIA standards, such as "Category 5 Patch Cable." Ratings can also be based on ISO/IEC 11801 performance categories or IBM specifications, in which case a statement of those standards is marked on the label. Cables that have been rated only for performance include the word "only." Cables that have been rated for both safety and performance include the word "also" before the performance rating.
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